Canopy fabric edges… should they be hemmed?

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orion1210

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Hello all,

We have recently had a new canopy made and installed by a reputable canopy maker. Overall we are very pleased with its fit and features however we have noted, thanks to some frayed edges within a week, that exposed fabric edges, such as where sowed onto zip webbing, have not been hemmed.

Admittedly I know very little about working with textiles but from what I have read hemming is a necessity to prevent woven fabric from fraying/unraveling. I should be grateful if you could advise from experience or from taking a look at your own canopies if edges are generally hemmed.

We’re concerned that if left we’ll quickly end up with an unsightly and potentially significantly weakened canopy with a vastly reduced life expectancy. These things aren’t cheap, just looking for reassurance that I’m looking at this correctly.

Thank you
 
I make covers, canopies, spray hoods etc. It's more of a hobby, but I would always hem any edges. Whether it's the ends/sides where fixings attach, zip openings, velcro fixings. It looks a lot better apart from the added strength.
 
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orion1210 said:
canopies if edges are generally hemmed.
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They can be hemmed, or have a binding (sort of tape U-sewed on the brim), or at the very least be cut with a hot iron which melts the fiber ends. If acrylic cloth (Sunbrella, Sauleda, etc) is simply cut with scissors and left like that it will fray.
It is sometimes the case around the edges of clear vinyl windows, the making usually goes by sewing the clear plastic over the acrylic canvas, then cutting away the canvas: the resulting edge is very near the vinyl and difficult to hem/melt if no preparation has been done beforehand.
Other difficult areas are the inside of curves (like notches for handrails, etc), but on average the outside perimeter of canvas work should never be left without some kind of protection from fraying.
 
My guess is that they're really busy, possibly short staffed and simply overlooked this bit of the job. Give them a call.
 
Where a hem is not required, and there is no selvedge to resist fraying, it is normal to cut the cloth with a hot knife to seal the edge.

You might be lucky to have enough free edge to heat seal it, but a call to the sailmaker is a first step.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

The canopy maker is remaking the whole back section for other reasons. I’m yet to receive an answer as to whether or not they should have hemmed the remaining sections’ fabric edges or an explanation as to why they feel they do not require hemming. Communication isn’t their forte unfortunately; as SimonD said, they are likely very busy. I’m reaching a point where I’d struggle to recommend their services unfortunately.
 
sarabande said:
Where a hem is not required, and there is no selvedge to resist fraying, it is normal to cut the cloth with a hot knife to seal the edge.

You might be lucky to have enough free edge to heat seal it, but a call to the sailmaker is a first step.
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Larger sailmakers cut fabric with a computer-controlled laser cutter, which has the same effect. I understand that if the fabric is cut with a hot knife or a laser, there is no need to hem it; it's just the same as sealing the end of a rope with a flame. And, of course, hemming increases the thickness at the seam and this may be undesirable..
 
Acrylic Coated fabrics with a PU finish rarely fray on internal edges.
It’s usual to bind or hem external edges such as zip sides as they may get caught in the zip teeth and cause problems with the slider .
Acrylic binding tape is almost universally used now, to trim the edges of covers .
Heat sealing edges of fabric tends to make nasty fumes ?
 
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